Compare towns
Clinton vs Topsfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($387k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Clinton | Topsfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
6,564 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Topsfield | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.